Nurse lifts the lid on loo dangers
A SENIOR nurse has warned men about the dangers of leaving the toilet seat up.
Pippa Hart, director of nursing at Epsom Hospital says flushing the toilet with the lid up can spread disease.
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WARNING: Pippa Hart
She said: "Closing the lavatory lid before you flush could help you avoid unwanted germs, including the 'vomiting bug' norovirus.
"You might not realise it, but leaving the lid up can allow a cloud of bacteria to explode into the air, settling on nearby surfaces, including towels, flannels and, more worryingly, toothbrushes."
Research shows bacteria can be transported up to ten inches above a toilet seat when it is left open, and can still be detected in the air up to 90 minutes later.
Ms Hart added: "Keeping the lid up when you flush is not in itself a massive health hazard, but the simple act of closing it before flushing can make your bathroom a cleaner, healthier environment.
"My advice would always be to shut the lid and wash your hands with soap and water. It's easy, and it's an extra step to protect yourself and the people you live with from falling ill."
2 Comments
by MarkSurrey
Saturday, January 28 2012, 9:50AM
“It sounds to me as if she has some issue with the seat being left up. I do find this story hysterically funny as she's actually come up with a story to try and justify her obsession with men putting the seat down.”
by skrivener
Friday, January 27 2012, 3:36PM
“Has this story or it's headline has got a bit garbled somewhere along the line. Was this senior nurse really lecturing just men. Surely urine is effectively sterile, so this is not particularly a warning to men, the story must have been meant as a warning to both men & women that after they have... (how can I politely put it?) 'after they have put the toilet seat down', they should then put the lid down before flushing.
I'm probably wrong, but can't help wondering if this problem is just a feeling, or a major scientifically proven risk? It appears that (apart from hospitals) the more sterile circumstances we attempt to live in, the more prone we are to extreme allergic reactions & serious sickness caused by our un-inocculated immune systems being unable to defend us.”